Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest July 18, 2022
East Sarah Lake FishingDWater-quality grade D
Minnesota DNR surveys at East Sarah Lake average 14.21 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 10 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 18, 2022. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 13–15 inches. In Hennepin County, Minnesota, East Sarah Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of D. Water clarity averages 3.5 feet of visibility, and the lake has public access. The survey figures on this page are Minnesota DNR's own; the water-quality grade comes from EPA Water Quality Portal samples. Neither is a forecast of today's bite.
Species recorded at East Sarah Lake
13 species on the Minnesota DNR list for this lake. A species on the list has been recorded here; it does not mean it is catchable today or in every part of the lake.
Stocking at East Sarah Lake
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for this lake — which species went in, how many, and in which years. Read the years: a lake stocked in one year is not necessarily stocked in the next.
Getting on the water
Minnesota DNR lists the public access sites, including ramp type and parking, in the documents below.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR surveys at East Sarah Lake average 14.21 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 10 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 18, 2022. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 13–15 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades East Sarah Lake D from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
10 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-07-18 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 43.88 | 0.17 lb |
| Black Crappie | 19.43 | 0.17 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 16.09 | — |
| Largemouth Bass | 14.21 | 1.45 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 8.53 | 1.04 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE means more abundant in standardized sampling. This is not a weekly bite report.
Length Distributions
Number of fish caught at each inch class in the most recent survey that recorded lengths. Red dashed line marks an approximate trophy threshold for that species.
Bluegill
Black Crappie
Largemouth Bass
Yellow Bass
From the 2022-07-18 survey
Lake Sarah is a 561-acre lake with a maximum depth of 59 feet, located southeast of Rockford, in western Hennepin County. Sarah is primarily managed for Largemouth Bass and Northern Pike, and also holds healthy populations of Black Crappie, Bluegill, Yellow Bullhead, and Walleye. Walleye have been stocked privately…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for East Sarah Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — SarahFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — SarahFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — SarahPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in East Sarah Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at East Sarah Lake average 14.21 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 10 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 18, 2022. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 13–15 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 13 species for the lake in total. Those are survey results, not a catch report: a net set on one date measures what was in that net.
When was East Sarah Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for East Sarah Lake is dated July 18, 2022. Survey intervals vary by lake and by species; a gap of several years between surveys is normal and does not mean the record is missing.
Is East Sarah Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for East Sarah Lake. It records which species were released, in what numbers and in which years — the source documents are linked further down this page. A lake can be stocked in some years and not others, so read the years rather than assuming an annual release.
Does the water-quality grade tell me how East Sarah Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades East Sarah Lake D from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Before you eat what you catch
A water-quality grade is not a consumption advisory. Mercury and PCB advice for Minnesota waters comes from MDH, and it is issued per species and per size class — a lake can grade well and still carry a meal limit on larger predator fish.
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Top-rated places to stay near East Sarah Lake
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